Portland’s Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods is rolling out a second Solarize project, and hopes it will lead to 400 to 500 people installing rooftop solar panels in Northeast Portland.

If successful, that would amount to one of the largest-ever Oregon projects to expand the use of residential solar energy.

Solarize projects make it easy for homeowners to add photovoltaic solar panels to their homes, by providing technical assistance, financing and a bulk purchase of materials, along with a pre-selected solar installer to service all the homeowners.

Mr. Sun Solar, a veteran local solar installer, was chosen via a competitive bidding process to provide solar installations for the second phase of Solarize in Northeast Portland, says Robert Cross, store manager for Umpqua Bank on Alberta Street.

Umpqua, through its GreenStreet Lending service, is offering financing to help people pay the up-front costs.